Yesterday's roller-coaster weather of snow, sleet, freezing rain, snow clusters and dreary rain didn't make that much of an impression on the landscape. By early evening, there was a modest covering of snow on lawns, but driveways and roads were just wet from melting snow and rain. We missed our afternoon walk through the ravine trails simply because when the temperature sits just below freezing, pelting rain can be uncomfortable. Now, if it were freezing rain it would just ping off us, the rain-rain penetrates.

 

 

So it was with a bit of satisfaction that we saw a hefty layer of snow this morning, that had fallen overnight. It was a thoroughly wet, crusty kind of snow, heavy to move. And that's the goal Irving set for himself first thing before breakfast, to clear the backyard walkways of the snow; there were layers of snow and ice and that combination is not only unyielding to shovels but heavy to lift and throw. But it got done, and then it was the turn of the front walkway. 

 

And the need to rescue one of the cedar trees that, burdened with heavy, wet snow collapsed in a graceful arc right across the front stoop to the porch. The loose snow was knocked off to give it some relief, but under that snow was a thick layer of ice, and though all the other trees stood upright seeming to suffer no discomfort, this one wanted to maintain its downward loop and needed to be helped a little by one of the stout branches of the magnolia.

 

We went about our usual Monday housecleaning in the afternoon, but by two in the afternoon, it seemed to us we'd better get the puppies out for a walk in the ravine. Heavy overcast, where the sky cannot be differentiated in colour from the snow on the ground made for a dark day. In the forest, the trees were completely furred with snow, and under that snow, a layer of ice.

 

The entire prospect of the landscape looks enchanting with the first large snowfall of the season. Everything is sharply etched in white-and-black. Although the temperature remained low, just at freezing, the dampness in the atmosphere was certainly felt. About 12 cm of snow had fallen overnight, leaving roughly five inches of snow on the forest floor. It was of course, wet snow, which neither Jackie and Jillie nor we found it difficult to traverse.

 

In fact the thickness of the snow on the trail, evened the surfaces, and covered roots and rocks and made some of the short, steep parts of the trail seem less sharp, more readily passed over with less need for care, the traction was so good. While we were out, snow resumed falling, in light drifts. 

The forest creek was just about as full as we ever see it. We were  hoping we might see the pair of wild turkeys that had come to visit us yesterday afternoon, but no such thing. Not even squirrels were about.